高山上的呼喊-go tell it on the mountain

第11部分 (第3/7頁)

before　creation；　and　he　began　to　feel　aterror　he　had　never　felt　before。

And　he　looked　around　the　church；　at　the　people　praying　there。　Praying　Mother　Washingtonhad　not　e　in　until　all　the　saints　were　on　their　knees；　and　now　she　stood；　the　terrible；　old；　black　；above　his　Aunt　Florence；　helping　her　to　pray。　Her　granddaughter；　Ella　Mae；　had　e　in　with　her；wearing　a　mangy　fur　jacket　over　her　everyday　clothes。　She　knelt　heavily　in　a　corner　near　the　piano；under　the　sign　that　spoke　of　the　wage　of　sin；　and　now　and　again　she　moaned。　Elisha　had　not　lookedup　when　she　came　in；　and　he　prayed　in　silence：　sweat　stood　on　his　brow。　Sister　McCandless　andSister　Price　cried　out　every　now　and　again：　‘Yes；　Lord！’　or：　‘Bless　your　name；　Jesus！’　And　hisfather　prayed；　his　head　lifted　up　and　his　voice　going　on　like　a　distant　mountain　stream。

But　his　Aunt　Florence　was　silent；　he　wondered　if　she　slept。　He　had　never　seen　her　prayingin　a　church　before。　He　knew　that　different　people　prayed　in　different　ways：　has　his　aunt　alwaysprayed　in　such　a　silence？　His　mother；　too；　was　silent；　but　he　had　seen　her　pray　before；　and　hersilence　made　him　feel　that　she　was　weeping。　And　why　did　she　weep？　And　why　did　they　e　here；night　after　night；　calling　out　to　a　God　who　cared　nothing　for　them—if；　above　this　flaking　ceiling；there　was　any　God　at　all？　Then　he　remembered　that　the　fool　has　said　in　his　heart；　There　is　no　God—and　he　dropped　his　eyes；　seeing　that　over　his　Aunt　Florence’s　head　Praying　Mother　Washingtonwas　looking　at　him。

Frank　sang　the　blues；　and　he　drunk　too　much。　His　skin　was　the　color　of　caramel　candy。　Perhaps　forthis　reason　she　always　thought　of　him　as　having　candy　in　his　mouth；　candy　staining　the　edges　ofhis　straight；　cruel　teeth。　For　a　while　he　wore　a　tiny　mustache；　but　she　made　him　shave